Michael Langley

{{Infobox military person

| name = Michael Langley

| image = Gen Michael E. Langley.jpg

| birth_name = Michael Elliott Langley

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|60|2022|8|6}}

| birth_place = Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Marine Corps

| serviceyears = 1985–present

| rank = General

| commands = {{plainlist|

| battles = War in Afghanistan

| awards = {{ubl|Defense Superior Service Medal (2)|Legion of Merit (3)|Bronze Star}}

| alma_mater = {{plainlist|

| module = {{Listen

|pos = center

|embed = yes

|filename = Opening Statement of LtGen Michael Langley at his Confirmation Hearing to be AFRICOM Commander.ogg

|title = Michael Langley's voice

|type = speech

|description = Langley's opening statement at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee to be commander of U.S. Africa Command
Recorded 21 July 2022}}

}}

Michael Elliott Langley (born {{birth based on age as of date|60|2022|8|6|noage=1}}){{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/06/us/politics/michael-langley-marine-four-stars.html|title=After 246 Years, Marine Corps Gives 4 Stars to a Black Officer|work=New York Times|last=Cooper|first=Helene|date=August 6, 2022|access-date=August 7, 2022}} is a United States Marine Corps general who has served as the commander of the United States Africa Command since 9 August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/29268|title=DVIDS Webcast - AFRICOM Change of Command|access-date=August 5, 2022|website=DVIDS}}{{Cite news |title=U.S. Africa Command welcomes a new boss |work=AfrikPage |url=https://afrikpage.com/2022/08/09/u-s-africa-command-welcomes-a-new-boss/ |access-date=August 9, 2022}} He most recently served as commander of United States Marine Corps Forces Command, United States Marine Corps Forces Northern Command, and Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic from November 2021 to August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.wavy.com/news/military/marines/marine-forces-in-hampton-roads-welcome-new-commander-next-week/|title=Marine Forces in Hampton Roads welcome new commander next week|date=October 19, 2021|access-date=August 7, 2022|location=Norfolk, Virginia|website=Wavy}} He also served as deputy commander of Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and before that as commander of United States Marine Forces Europe and Africa.{{Cite web|url=https://www.marforcom.marines.mil/Leaders/article-view-display/Article/614561/major-general-michael-e-langley/|title=Major General Michael E. Langley|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=May 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514163917/https://www.marforcom.marines.mil/Leaders/article-view-display/Article/614561/major-general-michael-e-langley/|url-status=live|website=U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command}}{{Cite web|last=Vandiver|first=John|url=https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/how-an-early-promotion-kept-a-young-black-marine-on-the-path-to-become-a-general-1.663672|title=How an early promotion kept a young Black Marine on the path to become a general|website=Stars and Stripes|date=February 26, 2021|access-date=August 7, 2022}}{{Cite web|last=Vandiver|first=John|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/langley-takes-over-marine-mission-in-europe-africa-following-neary-s-relief-1.650885|title=Langley takes over Marine mission in Europe, Africa following Neary's relief|website=Stars and Stripes|access-date=July 17, 2021|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320234841/https://www.stripes.com/news/langley-takes-over-marine-mission-in-europe-africa-following-neary-s-relief-1.650885|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Chavez|first=Larisa|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4421898/2nd-meb-commanding-general-promotion-relinquishment|title=2nd MEB Commanding General Promotion, Relinquishment|date=May 23, 2018|publisher=II Marine Expeditionary Force|location=Camp Lejeune, North Carolina|website=DVIDS}}

Langley is the first black four-star general in the United States Marine Corps, having been promoted to that rank on 6 August 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/426708/gen-michael-langley-becomes-marine-corps-first-black-four-star-general|title=Gen. Michael Langley becomes the Marine Corps' first black four-star general|date=August 6, 2022|access-date=August 7, 2022|location=Washington, D. C.|website=DVIDS}}{{cite news|last=Jeong|first=Andrew|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/03/michael-langley-first-black-four-star-marine-general/|title=Michael E. Langley confirmed as first Black four-star Marine general|date=August 3, 2022|access-date=August 4, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/426356/lt-gen-michael-langley-confirmed-promotion-general|title=Lt. Gen. Michael Langley confirmed for promotion to General|date=August 2, 2022|access-date=August 5, 2022|website=DVIDS}}

Early life and education

A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Langley graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, where he majored in information systems analysis. Langley's father was a master sergeant in the United States Air Force. When his father retired from the military in the early 1970s, the family moved to a civilian neighborhood in Texas. His father, Willie C. Langley, retired when he was told he would be deployed overseas again, separating him from his children. He was the primary caregiver for his children after their mother's death.{{cite news|last1=Chason|first1=Rachel|last2=Lamothe|first2=Dan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/20/michael-langley-africom-marines-general/|title=After 246 years, Marines set for their first Black four-star general|date=July 20, 2022|access-date=August 7, 2022|newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Military career

File:Gen. Michael Langley becomes the Marine Corps' first black 4-star general, 220806-M-TS451-0220.jpg on August 6, 2022.]]

While attending college, Langley entered the Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) program in 1983,{{Cite web |last=South |first=Todd |date=2022-09-09 |title=Grit & drive: The story of the Marine Corps' 1st Black 4-star general |url=https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2022/09/09/grit-drive-the-story-of-the-marine-corps-1st-black-4-star-general/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Marine Corps Times |language=en}} and was commissioned as an Artillery Officer in 1985 through Officer Candidates School. He commanded at every level from platoon to regiment – including Battery K, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines in support of Operation Wildfire in Western United States; battalion and regimental commands in 12th Marines forward deployed in Okinawa, Japan; and both the 201st Regional Corps Advisory Command-Central and Regional Support Command – Southwest in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

As a General Officer, Langley's command assignments include Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) and Commanding General, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade; Commander, Marine Forces Europe and Africa; and Deputy Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic and Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Command and Marine Forces Northern Command.{{cite web | url= https://www.marforcom.marines.mil/Leaders/article-view-display/Article/614561/lieutenant-general-michael-e-langley/ | title= Lieutenant General Michael E. Langley | website=U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command | access-date=May 23, 2022}}

Langley holds a master's degree in national security strategic studies from the Naval War College and a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.

=Four-star general=

In June 2022, Langley was nominated for promotion to general and assignment as commander of United States Africa Command. The nomination was confirmed by the Senate in August 2022, making him the first black four-star general in the 246-year history of the Marine Corps.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2255?s=1&r=1|title=PN2255 — Lt. Gen. Michael E. Langley — Marine Corps|date=June 8, 2022|website=United States Congress}}{{cite web|last1=Schmitt|first1=Eric|last2=Cooper|first2=Helene|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/us/politics/pentagon-africa-command-langley.html|title=Pentagon Taps Next Commander of U.S. Forces in Africa|date=May 20, 2022|access-date=May 22, 2022|location=Washington, D. C.|website=New York Times}}{{cite web|last=Joyner|first=James|url=https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/michael-langley-to-be-1st-black-marine-4-star-general/|title=Michael Langley to be 1st Black Marine 4-Star General|date=May 21, 2022|access-date=May 22, 2022|website=Outside the Beltway}}{{cite web | url=https://www.npr.org/2022/07/20/1112558286/marines-first-black-four-star-general | title=The Marines are set to have the first Black 4-star general in their 250 -year history | website=NPR | date=July 20, 2022 | last1=Diaz | first1=Jaclyn }}

Awards and decorations

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}}22px22px

|106px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}22px22px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg|width=106}}22px22px

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}18px18px

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}}18px18px18px18px

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=NATO Medal ribbon (Non-Article 5).svg|width=106}}

colspan="2"|150px

|colspan="2"|150px

colspan="2"|135px

|colspan="2"|135px

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
1st row \|colspan="3"\|Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster \|colspan="3"\|Legion of Merit with two gold award stars \|colspan="3"\|Bronze Star Medal \|colspan="3"\|Defense Meritorious Service Medal
2nd row \|colspan="3"\|Meritorious Service Medal with award star \|colspan="3"\|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars \|colspan="3"\|Joint Service Achievement Medal \|colspan="3"\|Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters
3rd row \|colspan="3"\|Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze service star \|colspan="3"\|National Defense Service Medal with service star \|colspan="3"\|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal \|colspan="3"\|Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
4th row \|colspan="3"\|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal \|colspan="3"\|Humanitarian Service Medal \|colspan="3"\|Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and three bronze service stars \|colspan="3"\|NATO Medal for ISAF
Badges \|colspan="6"\|Marine Corps Rifle Sharpshooter Badge \|colspan="6"\|Marine Corps Pistol Sharpshooter Badge
Badges \|colspan="6"\|Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge \|colspan="6"\|United States Africa Command Badge

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"

1st row

|colspan="3"|Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

|colspan="3"|Legion of Merit with two gold award stars

|colspan="3"|Bronze Star Medal

|colspan="3"|Defense Meritorious Service Medal

2nd row

|colspan="3"|Meritorious Service Medal with award star

|colspan="3"|Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two award stars

|colspan="3"|Joint Service Achievement Medal

|colspan="3"|Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two bronze oak leaf clusters

3rd row